The Opposition said Tuesday it agrees with the principles of the bill establishing the National Commission for Human Rights and Equality.
However, because insufficient time has been allowed for adequate consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, the Opposition will reserve its position and its vote on each article of the National Commission for Human Rights and Equality Bill during the Committee Stage.
The call for more time for consultation and serious scrutiny has also been made by several NGOs and civil society organisations, the Nationalist Party said.
This position reflects the Opposition's commitment to a serious and transparent parliamentary process based on adequate consultation, it added.
In reply, the Labour Party said the PN does not miss a single opportunity to try to stop equality reforms
After days of trying to obstruct the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Bills to discuss the creation of the National Human Rights and Equality Commission, this morning the Nationalist Party took a most surreal stance.
Instead of participating in the country's highest institution prepared to table amendments, Opposition MPs Ivan Castillo, Rebecca Borg, and Graziella Attard Previ chose only to say that they needed more time to study the bill.
In the Parliamentary committee, the Nationalist Party repeatedly said that it will abstain after each of the 60 clauses of this bill. This is a bill that the Opposition has had since last March, more than four months, as MP Attard Previ herself confirmed.
The Nationalist Party is finding every excuse not to vote in favour of another historic step for our country that protects citizens from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including issues through electronic systems and social media, the PL said.
The public knows that this is the same Nationalist Party that abstained or even voted against civil unions, equal marriage, child adoption, and IVF changes. It is clear that the Nationalist Party will remain the party of abstention, which does not miss a single chance to try to stop reforms in favor of equality, the PL said.
The porposed law has been criticised by among others, the Church Schools Association, and law professor Kevin Aquilina.